Sliding coaxial connector



Sept. 27, 1955 J. B. MUCKLER SLIDING COAXIAL CONNECTOR Filed Dec. 1, 1952 INVENTOR. 1 40% 8. Mac/r117? C A r ran/v: r

United States Patent SLIDING COAXIAL CONNECTOR Jack B. Muckier, Cedar Rapids, Iowa, assignor to Collins Radio Company, Cedar Rapids, Iowa, a corporation of Iowa Application December 1, 1952, Serial No. 323,344

Claims. (Cl. 339-177) This invention relates in general to electrical connectors, and in particular to an electrical connector which may be quickly and easily disconnected.

As electronic equipment has become more and more complicated, it has been necessary to divide various portions of receivers and other equipment into a number of separate units which are connected together by external leads. This allows complete units to be replaced or removed without interfering with the connections of the remaining equipment. For example, a receiver may have three or four sub-assemblies constructed as separate units which might plug in to the other units to comprise the complete receiver.

It is an object of this invention, therefore, to provide a slidable electrical connector which may be rapidly connected or disconnected.

Another object of this invention is to provide a relatively strong positive electrical connector for joining a pair of chassis.

Further objects, features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description and claims when read in view of the drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is an exploded view of the slide connector of this invention; and

Figure 2 is a sectional view illustrating the connector in the engaged position.

Figure 2 illustrates a portion of a first chassis which has an electrical output that is connected to the wire 11. A second chassis is shown as 12 and has an electrical conductor 13. It is desired to electrically connect the wire 11 with the wire 13 in a fashion such that they may be rapidly disconnected.

To accomplish this, a bearing member 14 is mounted in an opening formed in the chassis 10 by welding or other suitable means. It is formed with a central opening 15 through which a plunger member 16 is received. The plunger member 16 has a groove 17 formed adjacent an end and a clip 18 is received therein. The clip is large enough in diameter to prevent the plunger from being removed from the bearing 14.

The opposite end of the plunger member 16 is enlarged to form a portion 19 which is formed with an internally threaded portion 21. A coupling member 22 is formed with an externally threaded portion 23 and has a shoulder 24 formed adjacent the threaded portion 23. A hollow cup-shaped connector portion 26 is formed at the end opposite the threaded portion 23 and is large,

enough to allow it to slidably receive therein a cylindrical member 27.

The member 22 has an axial opening formed therethrough which holds insulating material 25. A cylindrical conducting member 28 extends through insulating material 25.

A washer 29 is received between the members 22 and 19 when they are in the assembled relationship shown in Figure 2. The member 27 is connected to a disc 31 which is soldered or otherwise connected to the chassis 12. Insulating material 32 is connected to the member 27 and passes through an opening 33 formed in the plate 31 and chassis 112 to insulate an engaging pin 34 from these members. The engaging pin 34 is formed with a tapered point 36 and has a hollow portion 37 at the opposite end so that it may be soldered to the conductor 13.

The conducting member 28 supported in the member 22 is also formed with a cup-shaped portion 38 which may be soldered or otherwise connected to the end of the conductor 11.

A set screw 39 may be threadedly received in the member 14 so as to lock the plunger 16 if desired.

-In operation, the apparatus is assembled as shown in Figure 2 and the chassis 10 and 12 are aligned so that the portion 26 fits over the member 27, allowing the tapered portion 36 of pin 34 to engage the hollow conducting member 28. Since the pin 34 is connected to the conductor 13 and the member 28 is connected to the conductor 11, electrical contact will be made between these conductors.

When it is desired to remove one of the chassis 10 or 12 for any reason, the members may be disconnected by grasping a knurled portion 40 formed on the member 19 and by moving it to the left relative to Figure 2. This disengages the member 26 and conductor 28 from the members 27 and pin 34, respectively.

It is to be noted that the plunger 16 is free to move to the left relative to Figure 2 a sufi'lcient distance to allow the member 26 to clear the member 27.

Advantages of the present connector are that it eliminates the need of flexible connections between adjoining chassis and it substantially speeds up the time required to connect and disconnect a pair of chassis.

The apparatus is relatively rigid and may be locked in place by the set screw 39 if desired so as to eliminate disconnections caused by vibrations or jar.

Although this invention has been described with respect to a particular embodiment thereof, it is not to be so limited as changes and modifications may be made therein which are within the full intended scope of the invention, as defined by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A sliding electrical connector for making connections between a pair of bodies comprising, a bearing member mounted in one of the bodies and formed with a central opening therethrough, a plunger member slidably received through the axial opening formed in said bearing member, a cylindrical coaxial member mounted to the second body, said plunger member formed into a coaxial conductor, and said plunger member detachably connectable with said cylindrical member.

2. A sliding coaxial connector for making electrical contact between a pair of bodies comprising, a bearing member mounted in one of said bodies and formed with an opening therethrough, a plunger member slidably received in said bearing member, retaining means mounted on said plunger member to prevent it from being withdrawn from said bearing member, a cylindrical coaxial conductor member attached to the second body, and said plunger member engageable with said cylindrical member.

3. A sliding coaxial connector for connecting electrically a pair of bodies comprising, a bearing member formed in one of said bodies, a plunger member slidably received through said bearing member, a retaining means mounted on said plunger member, a coupling member threadedly received in said plunger member, an axial opening formed through said plunger member, an insulated cylindrical conducting member mounted in said coupling member, a first conductor passing through said plunger member and engageable with said cylindrical conducting member, a second cylindrical member mounted to the second body and formed with a central insulated engaging pin and an external conducting member, and said coupling member engageable with said second cylindrical member so as to make electrical contact between the first cylindrical conducting member and said engaging 4. A sliding coaxial connector for making electrical contact between a pair of bodies comprising, a bearing member mounted in one of said bodies, a plunger member slidably received in said bearing member, said plunger member formed with an axial opening, a coupling member threadedly received in said plunger member, a cylindrical conductor mounted in said coupling member and insulated therefrom, a first conductor connected to said first body and extending through said axial opening in said plunger member and connected to said cylindrical conductor, said cylindrical conductor formed with a central opening, a cylindrical member attached to the second body, an engaging pin insulatingly supported by said cylindrical member, said coupling member engageable with said cylindrical member, and the engaging pin received within the axial opening formed in said cylindrical conductor.

5. A sliding coaxial connector for making electrical contact between a pair of bodies comprising, a bearing member mounted to one body, a plunger slidably received within said bearing and formed with a shoulder engageable with said bearing, a retainer ring attached to one end of said plunger member so as to prevent it from being Withdrawn from said bearing, a coupling means threadedly received in said plunger member, an axial opening formed through said plunger member, a hollow conductor insulatingly supported by said coupling member in alignment with the opening formed through said plunger member, a cylindrical member attached to the second body, an engaging pin insulatingly supported by said cylindrical member, and said plunger movable to cause the coupling member to engage the cylindrical member and the engaging pin to be received within the opening of said hollow conductor.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,808,570 Powers June 2, 1931 2,229,006 Rudd Jan. 14, 1941 2,332,529 Reppert Oct. 26, 1943 2,352,159 Brodie June 27, 1944 2,449,073 Johannesen Sept. 14, 1948 

